Summer 04 revisited

Posed in Grandma Carol's garden

Rachel and Ashley on the boat

Sammi and Kelly get personal

Think about these shots at Christmas as the temperatures plummet and the snows start turning the landscapes white and cold. 

Items to leave OUT of your LUGGAGE

While I was in Maryland with Eric's,Avalon, a friend of Ashleys, graciously gave Carol and I a couple of small Christmas presents, neatly wrapped with appropriate paper and bows.  I chose to open the Potporri but left the other two small items wrapped.  The two small items were placed in my carry on bag with the few clothes and books that I wanted back to the lake.  As I was going thru security at the Philly airport early Fri morn, I noticed that the man on the X-Ray had called over an assistant to look with him.  I thought, "Crap!! I forgot to take out the small bag with liquids under 3 oz each"!!  But NO.  They had noted the small Christmas gifts.  So, I was asked to accompany my bag to a nearby stainless steel counter where it was opened and searched until he got to the two small gifts.  They were candles in glass.  Guess what shows up the same as gel explosives????   You got it!!  Candle WAX!!!  The TSA guy who did the search and find was very nice and even apologetic.  I assured him that it was no problem and I had plenty of time to catch my plane.  I did ask him what would have happened if the luggage had been checked for the underbelly storage.  He said they would have searched those bags, too.

Oh, I made it to the gate in plenty of time.  Loaded on time in the little cabin with 13 rows left and 12 rows right of 2 seats each.  You have to give your "carry on bags" to a guy at the end of the ramp, CAUSE the storage bins are DINKY and won't hold much more than a briefcase.  We sat for 20 minutes being assured that the valve which regulated heat in the back section of the plane would be noted and we would be on our way.  NOT!!  We had to deplane for an hour while the valve was replaced, reboard and get to St Louis an hour and 15 minutes late.  Carol was not a happy LIMO driver, as she had circled the area about 11 times before parking and going to the monitor to see that we were delayed.  One good time for having a cell phone.

Any body got any horror stories of luggage items on airplanes???

Engagement Weekend

Eddie and Lalli on horses at the Marriott Ranch.

Getting ready for the ride.  It's a cinch!!

Found this picture of railroad tracks and liked the composition.  Eyes start at lower right and are carried thru the middle of the picture by the serpentine tracks.

Eddie proposed on this weekend retreat.

Edward and Lalli

I had borrowed Rachel's camera for cheer competition and found a couple of pictures that I cropped and enhanced.  Not too bad?? 

Cheer Part 2

After Sammi's performance, they received a bag of goodies including pencils with feathery ends.  Sam had traded her blue one for the red one in her right hand.  The two girls are "of course" playing a game on a computer while Eric is drinking coffee to stay awake between "sets".  This meet was poorly organized or deliberately slow and lots of "down" time resulted between different age and ability groups.

I think they were watching one of the high energy older teams do some really active and entertaining manuevers.

The groups performed on a raised stage which was just above a head if you were sitting down.  Very poor for watching.  I much prefer a stadium type seating with raised bleachers.  The group on stage is Twister Super Cells which is an all girl group that Rachel works with.  I don't know who the lady is with the Twister shirt, but it was a good photo label!!

Many of the girls had these curls that Sammi is decked out with.  Lots of work and several grimaces from the owner of the hair before this was completed.

Cheer Competition at Baltimore, Dec 11, 2010

OK, so I don't look too excited.  Rachel was showing me how to operate her Nikon Digital and I was evidently pondering something.  Note the neat TWISTERS shirt logo.

Rachel and Jenna.  This was taken at the back of the arena.  There must have been a zillion kids and parents at this thing.  Noise level HIGH!!

Sammi and Kelly just after Sammi perfomed.  They get to view a video immediately after they perform.

Thought I had a picture of Eric, but will have to post it later.

Carol's Eye Tuck Dec 2, 2010

6 hours after

No, I didn't hit her.  Dr. Lyon with Sabates Eye Clinics did an eye lid reduction surgery so she doesn't have to look thru her eyelashes to read or watch TV.  Our only "scare" was when we got home, she occupied the couch for awhile and then got up.  Some bright red blood drops traced her path to the kitchen for more ice to put on the gauze that she had over her eyes to help reduce swelling.  She laid down again and we put more ice on the gauze and the bleeding stopped.  We did call the Dr. and he said we had done the right thing.   She goes back Dec 7 to have the many little stitches removed.

Ron leaves on Saturday for a few days with Eric's in Maryland and will return on the 17th.

24 hours after.